Big Tracks!

Yesterday we heard that there was a wolf in the area.  We saw him earlier in the winter, although there was some argument whether he was a wolf or a coyote.

Well the proof is in the tracks.

Far Guy says that this guy is twice as big as Chance..and Chance weighs 60 Ibs.  There was a little new snow ..so the tracks were fresh and easy to spot. He seems to have been hunting rabbits.

It was a great afternoon to see where the deer have been.

This is the Dead Beaver Area in the dead of winter. It looks safe enough..but there is quite a current under that snow cover.

This is where we found the most tracks.  The wolf was using the road as a trail. We let Chance out of the car..to get a good smell of the area. He liked walking the groomed snowmobile trail!  Apparently the wolf was not in the area..because Chance was quite happy.

He chose to come back over the snow bank the same spot he went in..and he so kindly stopped on command for a photo! He loves afternoon adventures. 

The snow settled some..and we got a little more..here is the snowstick.

Holding at the twenty inch mark. The last snow really settled..it must have been heavy snow:)  

Wistful Wednesday: 1950

My maternal grandparents were Elsie and Albert, they were the grandparents that we visited every Sunday afternoon without fail.  After I was married I was expected to visit there on Sunday afternoons too..I chose to go on other days so I could actually visit. 

This is my grandparents the year before I was born.  They are all dressed up for church.  Remember those rubber overshoes like my grandma has on? All the ladies wore them in the winter..so they wouldn’t get their good shoes snowy or wet. Grandmas were the fancy smancy ones..they had fur at the top.

This is a summer time photo around the same time..give or take a year or two.  This is how I remember them dressing every day..Grandma in a house dress and Grandpa in his bibs with his engineers cap.  I think that is Dixie..they had a few Dixies in their time..Dixie would have been a cow dog…she would have went to the pasture and brought the cows up to the barn for milking. Dixie would have understood both English commands and German commands.

This is the house where I learned to play “Annie I Over” one summer Sunday afternoon.  Now for the younger readers..this is how you play.  You split into two teams, one team on each side of the house.  You throw a large ball over the roof and holler Annie I Over!  Then you wait..if the kids on the other side of the house catch the ball then they will sneak around the house and tag someone with the ball and then you are on their team. If no one catches the ball they are suppose to holler “Pig Tail” and then it is their turn to throw it over..always hollering “Annie I Over” as the ball goes up and over the house. It was a great game full of throwing, anticipation, running for your life to the other side of the house..and giggling..lots of giggling:)   

Toast

Simple..I have two slices of buttered toast every morning with an apple for breakfast.  I am a creature of habit. I used to have a banana, but I think I may be allergic to them so I switched to an apple. Not just any old apple either a Raeburn..tart and crisp.

When we used to go camping I missed my toast. We never splurged and bought one of those baskets that you could toast bread with over the campfire.

I have made toast in the oven on a cookie sheet under the broiler..but given my history with burning things under the broiler I am glad I don’t have to do it that way everyday.

Now here is a non electric toaster for you. Apparently the bread was strapped on with the wires..it was placed on the stove.  If it was a newfangled gas stove with an actual burner then this toaster was placed over the burner. If it was an old wood fired cook stove I guess it just sat on top waiting for the bread to become toast.  I wonder how long it took to make toast that way?

Far Guy likes toast..he likes his peanut butter toast at night and in the morning too..so does Chance.

One day our toaster gave up the ghost. It had toasted it’s last slice of bread, it was about time, it had only been toasting one side of the bread for years, you had to flip it around to achieve equal toasting or just be happy with one sided toast. It was a plain old white toaster. Easy to clean..you could tell when it was dirty.

We went shopping and bought a Oster..yup an Oster Toaster..brushed stainless steel. It has a retractable cord, whoopee..and a button that says cancel just incase your toast is burning and you need to pop it up manually.

  For comparison..there is an old electric toaster sitting next to it..a very pretty stainless steel one that is an antique..Far Guy needs to rewire the electrical cord.  Times sure have changed.

I am sure that this new brushed stainless steel lummox of a toaster was designed by a man.  You know how I can tell?   All along the top of that toaster between the black and the stainless..there is a ditch..a road for crumbs..a place for every little crumb to try and make a home.  When it is about to drive me totally nuts..I drag out the Q-Tips and wet them and go crumb chasing.  I have not decided what is worse..chasing crumbs in that toaster ditch..or having a toaster that when moved even slightly would spew all its crumbs from its bottom all over the counter…or the one that would get so hot on the outside that if someone put the plastic bread bag too close it would melt to the outside of the toaster creating its own artwork.

I know my toaster problems and opinions might seem small in comparison to all the problems in this troubled world..and some people even have worse toaster problems than me..like Karen at Wyndson Farm.

Do you ever look inside your toaster?  I do now:)

Savannah Skates

Yesterday Savannah had a home game, it was the championship game of a three day tournament.  Bemidji played Roseau.  Now Roseau is way up north on the Canadian border..those girls can really skate. The Bemidji gals did great. 

Savannah in charge of the puck..she has a black helmet. She is number 20.

She is an aggressive in your face player..the puck is the streak off to the left in the red circle.

At one point in the game she came on the ice..determined..the way she skated was different.  She had a purpose..that puck was going to be hers..she was going to own it.  Well she got possession of the puck and with what I described as “the precision of a stealth bomber” she skated through and gave it her best shot.

Savannah shoots and scores!!!  And I got this photo!!

The crowd erupts..and someone in the distance hollers “That is my Granddaughter!”  I am jumping up and down and I miss a few celebratory photos..as her team surrounds her.

Atta girl Savannah!!

 

I wanted to get another photo of her and her “point” on the scoreboard.

I finally managed an acceptable shot!  I think they should polish the scratches off their glass..

Sometimes Hockey is a rough sport..yes I captured a shot of her off her feet momentarily.  She was barely down and then back up again.

Savannah and Far Guy..the end score was 1-4.  Bemidji lost..but it was a good game…and a fun afternoon:) 

The Third Treasure

Last summer at Auntie Esther’s garage sale, Far Guy got three gifts from his cousins Bonnie and Jay.  Family treasures that have been passed down, from one generation to the next.  These items all come from his Great Great Grandfather..or in one of those confusing statements..his Fathers (Marvin), Fathers (James), Mothers (Martha Jane), Father (Xaver). Xaver was a tailor in Philadelphia before he settled into life as a farmer in Harrison County Iowa.

 

The first item on the left is a lunch pail.  I wrote about it back in August. The item out front was a mystery item that I wrote about in July..it is a hog scraper.  Now for that third little item in the back. 

It has a cover that fits quite tightly.. lets look inside.

The note says: This Button Can was Grand Father Aleck.  From this note we can date this button can earlier than 1860.

Inside the button can is another mystery.

I added my own note: No Idea what the REM-UMC 45-99 shell casing is from, it was in the button can.

It remains a mystery.  Perhaps someone found it..and with lack of a better place put it inside the button can. 

My Nephew Hunter who lives next door did some research for me:  The spent casing is from a Single Shot Winchester or Remington. The 45 is the diameter of the bullet, and the 99 means that in the old black powder rounds it would take 90 grains of black powder. This shell would have been from after 1912.

So we have items from all parts of Xavers life..a lunch pail that was either his or his childrens, a button can from his time as a tailor, and a hog scraper from his time as a farmer.

It is a pretty little button can, with a patina all its own.  I wish it had some buttons inside of it instead of an old mystery shell casing and two notes.  I can only imagine what a delight it must have been to open it when it was full of buttons…I would have put my hand right in and let the buttons run through my fingers:)

Kinda Like Christmas and Kindness

Even though the trees have been put back in their coffins till next year it still looks like Christmas every time you look outside.

Inside only the Nativity sets remain..today they will be retired to their boxes.  When the big tall tree went into the coffin..all the Shiny Brites didn’t fit. So off they went into the trunk. I will forget they are in there..so I wrote myself a note..saying “More can be found in the trunk!”and I threw that in the coffin.

I have been considering some thoughts to take into the New Year..some one word intentions..I think I have settled on “kindness.”  I will TRY to be kinder and more sensitive to other peoples needs. There are lots of dumb shits out there in the world..I should be kinder to them.

I thought about adding “eavesdropping” to the one word intention list..  Far Guy thought that if he was talking to someone on the phone and I was in the same room ..that I would know not only what he said but what the other person said too.  Like I am Wonder Woman with superior hearing.   Nope..eavesdropping did not make my list.  IF he thinks that I am going to eavesdrop on all his phone calls then he is nuts..oops..guess I should be kinder..he might be mistaken.

I thought about adding “patience”  and “communication”  to the list. Then I realized those are already things I try to practice everyday, but perhaps some other people I know would benefit from them..just a kind little idea of mine to share:)

Let’s Play Hockey

Back when Far Guy managed the local Hockey rink in the winter, I worked for him part time…especially during games..you need a few extra people that know how to move nets and someone that can answer questions and someone who knows how to change a roll of toilet paper in the ladies room. We have watched just a few youth Hockey games.  So much so that when the National Anthem is played at any event..when it ends we look at each other and say “Let’s Play Hockey!”

In the black helmets Paige and Madison

Our Grand Girls are all Hockey Players.  They are physically strong aggressive little girls..and are a bit..no maybe a lot in your face when they play hockey.

Paige

They are not the grab your hanky dab at your eyes kind of girls.

Recently we caught part of a game, both Madison and Paige are on the Girls 12 and Under team.  They won in overtime  3-2 it was a good game.

Paige

Madison

They have learned all about teamwork, and taking direction from being on a Hockey Team.  They have formed friendships with many other like minded little girls, they are very busy with practices, games and tournaments. 

Savannah is on a different team (14 and Under) and plays some Junior Varsity games now..we hope to get to one of her games before the season is over:) 

Thumb Report Thursday

I finally got to have the stitches removed from my thumb.  When I complained that my thumb was still hurting the PA explained that yes indeedy I have lots of arthritis in the base of my hand and thumb.   It may have been aggravated by the surgery..duh?  It may get better all by itself..it may get worse..I can have as many cortisone shots as necessary to keep me comfortable..or I can have a very painful long to recover from surgery where they take out some of the bone…NOT.

Right now I am just waiting for it to get better..there are certain things I cannot do.  WELL I can do them..but the motion sends shooting pains up my arm all the way to my shoulder..and that pain is exhausting.  Some things are simple motions..pulling on my boots..so I switch and do it with my left hand.  The one that I cannot seem to retrain myself to do occurs in my sleep..grasping the quilt and pulling it up..I am instantly awake.  Any grasping with my thumb will cause pain. I will just have to be inventive and learn to do things differently.

Yesterday I suffered through emptying the paper shredder.. twice..it has a very heavy top and it requires two good thumbs to empty it.  I was very busy cleaning out some old files..ALL BY MYSELF.  Someone who will remain nameless complained the day before that anyone that is a compulsive shredder should empty the shredder once in awhile.  That someone then emptied it..and got shred all over the floor. 

I can finally do my own hair again..no more Far Guy hair styles.  Far Guy offered to make it all easier for me..he would shave my head and we would match. He was grinning from ear to ear..a kind of evil smile.

This is the snow stick..it is at 21.  Steve (next door neighbor) asked last night what it was at..Far Guy and I both though it was at 23..nope it is still at 21.  Many people in our area say that we got way over a foot of snow in the last two snowstorms..our stick says eleven inches. It may not be a good indicator of the entire area..it is just meant to show us what is on the ground in our yard.

I took this on January 03, 2011.  It is a photo of a sundog that was visible through the clouds.  We get them in the winter..usually on really cold days. 

I can still use my camera..but I am thankful that it isn’t any heavier or larger than it is:)

Wistful Wednesday: 1965-1966

When I was 14 or 15 and my baby brother was 11 or 12, my Dad came home from working in Minneapolis/St. Paul one Friday night and he had a surprise for us. A Yamaha 50 Scooter/Motorbike..a 1965 or a 1966.

If I recall correctly it was supposed to be used to get us back and forth from the back field faster than a bicycle.

My baby brother and I had a blast with this little motorbike.  We learned hand signals and everything..they were all explained in the Owners Manual..which I read several times cover to cover. 

My baby brother was especially fond of this motorbike. I took this photo of him the year I took photography for a 4-H project.

I took Cathie one of my friends from High School for a spin. I will guess that Cathie’s Mom took this photo.

Having a motorbike was fun.. sure we got a few scrapes and cuts..and I used to burn my leg on the muffler regularly.  This little motorbikes top speed was about 35 miles per hour..plenty fast for me.

It would appear the my baby brother is revisiting his youth.  He called me the other day and said “Bought myself a Christmas present!”   I encouraged him to be careful and to always wear his helmet.

I did send him a email that said “Saw a guy that was in a motorcycle accident one day he had road rash all over his body..and he looked like one big scab..but he was alive thanks to his helmet.”

I wanted to say more..but I bit my tongue..like are you nuts? you are getting too old to revisit your youth..why didn’t you buy a flashy red convertible and a new hat?  ..did you know that machine weighs 957 pounds?  I should have encouraged him to stick to the back woods gravel roads..stay off the freeway..in Oregon there are more than one or two people on the road at the same time..instead I just said “Be Careful” big bossy sisters should just shut up sometimes. Besides that he looks happy!  Thank you to Mark K for the photos, I think he is part of that same over fifty searching for our youth motorcycle gang as my brother:)

Chance: Playing Hockey

I learned to play “Hockey” back in 2005 when I was just one year old.  The Grandgirls and their friends taught me the game in their garage in Nebraska.  They played with a tennis ball.

 

My position was mobile goalie, if the ball ended up under something or back in a corner..I was off like a flash to retrieve it.  I would bring it back into play by dropping it where the kids were waiting with their sticks ready for the face off. One Christmas I played so hard..I injured the pads on my feet..I was a pathetic mess..sometimes Border Collies don’t know enough to quit.  By the time I started to limp it was too late..and I was out of action for awhile..restricted to grassy areas only. Far Side can be real bossy sometimes.

This year I got a new hockey stick for Christmas..from the Grandgirls..now I have two sticks.  Just incase more than one child wants to play at a time..which is a very good possibility!

Far Guy and I play hockey..

I drop the ball near his stick.  This was last Thursday December 30, 2010..before the big blizzard. We have lots more snow now!

Far Guy tries to get the ball past me..sometimes he does.  Most of the time I am victorious..but I have to let him sneak a shot past me every once in awhile or he gets bored.

Didja know that Far Guy and I are best friends?

I wait patiently for someone to get the message that I need to play ball and run some of my Border Collie energy off.

Far Side does not usually play Hockey..even though girls can play.  Sometimes she can be persuaded to go outside with me after dark and play regular ball with me.. I put my head in her lap and sigh..she gets the message…if that doesn’t work..a short little whine makes me sound pathetic and gets a reaction. She usually says “Chance go wait by the door..I will be along shortly.”  Then if I think it has been too long of a wait..one little yip will get her attention.   She is getting really good at lobbing the ball in the air with her left hand..it was hard for her to throw anything with her right hand after the dumb thumb surgery:)

Turning The Calendar Forward and Backward

I used to spend hours looking for just the right calendar to put up every new year.  For the past three years daughter Jen has made me a calendar. She uses Memory Mixer Software to create it..the same software I use to create my blog headers. She is a little more artsy fartsy than me..a little more daring..she puts photos in at an angle..sometimes I do too, and then after a few moments I straighten them up again. 

The calendar has some of my favorite people in the whole world in it and a few dogs too!

Jen organizes it for me and puts in everyone's birthday, along with their ages. Only one family birthday this month..Ron in Indiana. Only two days where I have to be someplace..later today I was supposed to get my trussed up like a turkey thumb released..they called and postponed me till tomorrow..someone who is supposed to be a health care professional has the flu..did they not get the memo about the flu shot?

I still have not made any resolutions, goals or lists..I must be in denial. Maybe I will just try to relax..and go with the flow.

Yesterday we were finally able to connect with Far Guys cousin Tim..we had a great visit. The roads were fair to partly crappy after the snowstorms, but we made our way to the Hobby Shop for train parts and to the Antique Shop for more old photos. Not that I needed anymore..but you have to strike while the iron is hot.  I got some great 1890’s Wedding Photographs. I found several old photos with names on them..so I will try to find homes for them.

Last week we had an interesting story unfold over at Forgotten Old Photos: Photo Number 409   A little girl who was seven years old wrote a postcard to her parents back in 1963 or so..I found it in an Antique Shop..yesterday I mailed it back to her!  How would you like to get some small piece of your childhood back?  I was thrilled for her!  For just a moment when she opens her mail in a few days she will be seven again and homesick..what a way to have your calendar turned backward:)

The Tall Tree

The big tree was not completed until Christmas Eve..the Grands along with their Mothers helped to finish it off. 

They heard about the oldest ornament..

Which I believe is a fish..there used to be one on our tree at home when I was a little girl. Adam took this one very gently ..and found a secure spot for it.

I told them..that this one is from next door neighbor Jo.

This one is from Rae..it is one of the ornaments that is called a Polish.. and it is an indent. 

I showed them how the Shiny Brites are marked with their names on the top of the metal cap..and how the polish ones have a different crimped cap.

  This is a painted Shiny Brite..and paints were not washable years ago. So these ornaments cannot be washed..just wiped off with a dry cloth.

I told them about how some colors are plentiful, there are many red, silver and gold ornaments.  Orange and purple ones are few and far between. There is a beautiful aquamarine blue color..I have a few..

It is a tree filled with childhood memories. Minus the messy tinsel. Mixed with memories of trips to antique shops and garage sales, sprinkled with gifts from friends who understand the obsession and with new memories of little hands gently reaching for ornaments.  Someday perhaps the Grands will see a Shiny Brite and say “Hey, that reminds me of my Grandma.” There are worse things that you can be remembered for.

  It has no lights..and the Christmas tree skirt I purchased at a garage sale is not quite large enough..but I was still pleased with the way it turned out. The final count?  I lost track after 420 ornaments.

It will take many days to de decorate..but I am not quite ready to put it all back in it’s coffin yet:) 

January 1, 2011

It seems strange to type 2011. It will take me six months to remember that it is indeed 2011..especially when I write a check..sometimes I just go through and write in the correct  year for the entire packet of checks.

This is the year I turn sixty, it always seemed far away, not so much now.  I still have a ways to go as my birthday isn’t till Fall.  The blog may just have to change when I do. It will probably just become Far Side. I don’t have to think about it yet..I can still bury my head in a snow bank for awhile.

It snowed a little.  Now this probably looks worse to you than it is..our home is a split entry and we have two levels, up and down..we live down..cause it is cozy. The lower level windows are at ground level..I used to be able to see out this one..

The snow stick will tell the whole story ..it measures snow on the ground..total inches.

     

December 30 at noon        December 31 at 11AM

Nine inches of new snow..what fun..

The Finnish Flag is dragging..yesiree I have a clothespin holding it to the hanger.  You can see where the snow stick is located. I am not sure how accurate it is..but it works for us.

It has snowed a couple more inches since yesterday..but the second storm we were supposed to get kinda fizzled.. the wind is supposed to come up later today.

I haven’t made any New Years Resolutions yet..or put together any lists either.  We de-decorated the downstairs tree so we could put the carving table back up..not that I can carve or anything until these stupid stitches are out of my thumb. Far Guy is working on his model train scenery/stuff.

We watched a movie yesterday that Jen left for us..Sex and the City..I napped during most of it..so on my movie scale it gets a 1.  I think it might be time to break out some good old Red Green:)